GEORGE TOWN, Sept 30 ― Crowds, divided into two groups, started gathering outside the courthouse here as early as 8am today in anticipation of Lim Guan Eng's corruption trial.
One group, mostly from Persatuan Mukabuku Pulau Pinang, held placards accusing the Penang chief minister of corruption while DAP supporters held up posters in support of Lim.
The Mukabuku group used a loud hailer to hurl insults while accusing Lim of corruption and marginalising the rakyat.
This prompted a response from the Penang chief minister's supporters who shouted back at them.
The shouting between both groups led to a minor altercation, which was broken up by the police.
Northeast district police chief ACP Mior Faridalathrash Wahid, who was present to control the crowd, warned both sides that they will be ordered to leave unless they calmed down.
Lim is facing two charges, one for allegedly abusing his power to approve the rezoning application by Magnificent Emblem to convert agricultural land to residential and another for his purchase of his RM2.8 million house from Phang Li Khoon at below market value of RM4.27 million.
He faces a prison term of not more than 20 years and a fine of five times the value of gratification or RM10,000, whichever is higher, if convicted of the first charge, and up to two years' imprisonment, a fine and forfeiture of property for the second offence.
Today, his case is set for case management at the Penang High Court where his lawyers, led by Gobind Singh Deo, will handle the case in chambers before judge Hadhariah Syed Ismail.
